10 Life-Saving Tricks To Avoiding A Hang-Over

It's happened to all of us. One minute you're sitting at the bar with your girls, enjoying a nice night out on the town and the next you're waking up in bed, your head one big collage of "oh shit."

If you're still young and can drink like a pirate with little to know consequences, then cheers and enjoy it while it lasts, cupcake. Realize however, that it won't forever. As we get older, our bodies tend to grow less and less shy about telling us how displeased it is with our alcoholic antics and the hangovers only seem to get worse as the years roll on.

Luckily however, there are ways to get around the misery of the morning after. Here we've collected some time honored tips and tricks to help you avoid the dreaded hangover.

1. Practice the One for One Rule

giphy.com

It’s no secret that rehydrating can help with a hangover, but try employing this technique before the hangover sets in. The next time you go out drinking, making it a point to drink a glass of water after every alcoholic beverage, so you can stay hydrated on the go.

One of the things that makes a hangover so grueling is that the tissues around our brains are composed largely of water and when alcohol does its dehydration thing, said tissues shrink. This creates that grueling head pressure that most of us know all too well, so do yourself a favor and give your head tissues a head start (horrible pun totally intended) on staying hydrated.

2. Leave the Lady Like Eating for Another Night

giphy.com

If you suspect a night of hardcore drinking is in your immediate future, then know that tonight is no time for a salad. Though anyone who’s ever tried drinking on an empty stomach likely already learned the lesson never to do so again, eating light can also be a little risky when it comes to hangovers.

Instead, try eating something with plenty of carbs, protein, and fat before you hit the bar. Research shows that it not only helps your body absorb alcohol more slowly, it may even keep blood alcohol down to a lower level. Red meat is a particularly good choice, as it has a high concentration of both amino acids and B vitamins which will help your body process whatever you may choose to chase it with.

3. Keep It Clear

pinterest.com

Ever notice how dark liquors and red wine seem to produce worst hangovers? Well, rest assured it’s not just your imagination. Darker drinks contain more congeners, which are substances that are produced during fermentation, and these bad boys are believed to contribute to the misery produced by a hangover.

Next time you go out, try sticking to clear liquors like vodka and err on the white wine side.

4. Treat Yo’Self To the Top Shelf

giphy.com

Though it may be tempting to try and save a few bucks for house or cheaper liquors, not all alcohols are created equal. One of the reasons that top-shelf liquors tend to be more expensive is that they are distilled more times and contain less of those pain inducing congeners.

So the next time you’re out, you may want to give it a shot and splurge on some of those sparkly top-shelf liquors. Being able to weigh how much impact it has on how you feel the next day at least once may be worth dishing out a few extra bucks.

5. Brush Aside the Bubbly

giphy.com

As tempting as it can be to raise a classy glass of champagne, steering clear of it and other drinks mixed with carbonated beverages is a good way to cut down on the impending pain of tomorrow. Research shows that those fun little bubbles may actually cause your body to absorb alcohol more quickly and as we all know, there’s nothing classy about waking up feeling like your head’s about to explode.

6. Toss Aside the Smokes

giphy.com

According to a study published by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, alcohol and cigarettes may not be as great an idea as drunk-you thinks. The study followed 113 college students, documenting both their smoking and drinking habits for eight weeks, as well as their accompanying hangovers.
The research showed that pairing cigarettes with heavy drinking significantly increased the odds and severity of hangovers.

7. Never Underestimate the Power of Vitamins

pinterest.com

One of the reasons we get hangovers is that our bodies aren’t shy about telling us they’re angry about how much alcohol depletes much needed nutrient like folate and vitamin B12. Help combat the situation by popping a few multi-vitamins that are rich in vitamin B complexes before heading out for the night, or the next day if the damage is already done.

Another particularly effective choice is red ginseng, which comes in both pill and liquid shot forms, and has been shown to reduce both blood alcohol levels and the severity of hangovers.

8. Get those Electrolytes Going Again

Along with the fun of dehydration comes a drop in electrolytes like potassium. The good news is, there are several ways to get them back up and running. Try snacking on foods like bananas or spinach which are rich in potassium or even try drinking a bottle of Pedialyte, which has five times more potassium than a bottle of Gatorade.

Coconut water is also a good choice, as it comes packed with electrolytes, as is downing some Emergen-C in a glass of water.

9. Don’t Skip Breakfast

giphy.com

Though hungover-you’s last idea of a good time may be trying to put anything else into your system, it’s important to get your blood sugar back up after a night out on the town. Fruit juices are great for the job as are foods with high glycemic indexes like Rice Chex or even a French baguette.

Eggs are also great re-coop options because they contain taurine which has been shown to helpful in reversing liver damage. And of course don’t forget vegetables which contain tons of antioxidents.

10. Think the Drink Through

pinterest.com

Though the bar can be a tempting place to stay in the now, a little reverse of perspective can go a long way. If you’ve got something important to do the next day, then the bar is no place for ambition. Before you order that one…okay two, extra drinks, retreat to the bathroom for a moment to assess the situation.

Think not about how much fun you’re having in the moment, but about all the things you have to do tomorrow and make an effort to assess whether that extra shot is going to be worth the added pain in may bring in the morning.